Radiator



July 5, 1932. l. T. BENNETT ET AL 1,355,427

RADIATOR' Filed July 12, 1928 s sheets-sheet 1 ,QA/KC REV/VOLO@ E f m lff'y @if/Q July 5, 1932.

l. T. BENNETT ET AL 1,865,427

RADIATOR Filed July 12, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f X WWE Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE il IRVING T. BENNETT, 0F BROOKLYN, AND FRANK C. REYNOLDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSG-NMENTS, TO AMERICAN RADIATOR & STANDARD SANT- TARY CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAXVARE RADIATOR In certain previous applications, for example, Murray @a Bennett, No. 203,437 filed July 5, 1927, which has now matured into Patent No. 1,816,606 issued July 28, 1931, Vand Phelps, No. 249,538 filed January 26, 1928, there is described a certain type of radiator comprising a heating element to which is applied a structure of extended area for conducting heat to the air.

The present invention aims to provide certain improvements applicable particularly to the type of radiators shown in said pending applications, and useful also in other types. The heating element is herein illustratedl as a steam or hot water pipe. But it may be an electric resistance strip or other known style of heating element. And the pipe illustrated may be used for circulating a cooling brine or other' fluid for cooling the air instead of steam for heating the air. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate several different embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan;

Fig. 2 is an elevation and Fig. 3 is a sectio-n on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are plans illustrating modifications y Fig. 9 is a sectional view of certain parts of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9a is an enlargement of a detail of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9b is a modification of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are plans of other modifications;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Figs. 13 and 14 are details in perspective of certain flanged straps;

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are plans of other modifications.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one or Vmore steam pipes 1 extend horizontally and 3, the inne-i1 portions ofthe structure beingV united to the steam pipe so as to form alternate closed flues between which are grooves open at the outer side.

"i Application med .my 12, 192s. seriai No. 292,309.

A point of improvement of the present invention is in the making of the metal structure in units each including a pair of plates 2 connected at their outer edges by a plate 3 and having flanges 4 at the inner edges of a width equal to half the intended space between one of the side plates 2 and the next. The effect is a corrugated structuresimilar to that shown in previous applications. But the small units can be made much more economically. They can be stamped out rapidly from a simple draw press. lThe edges of each of these units are drawn to form a semi-circular recess 5 (Fig. 3) closely embracing thepipe 1.

The pipe and the parts of the corrugated "i structure may be united or fastened together in various ways, such as'those described in Vthe previous applications. We have, however, provided an improved style of strap for fastening the parts together. Itis shown applied in Figs. l, 2 and 3 and separately in Fig. 13. It comprises `a web 6 bent toform a central recess 7 and having a pair of flanges 8 which when the strap is in place form transverse fins and provide an increased area of metal for conducting heat away from the pipe and heating the air. The flanges Shave lateral enlargements 9 Vregistering with and formed by the bending out of thev recess 7.

Alternatively the-se straps may be made as in Fig. 14 with the web and the flanges cut away as at 10 instead of being pressed out. These straps are welded through the sheet metal as shown in Fig. 3 and explained in detail in the above recited pending application. They hold the parts rmly together and are preferably of steel and of heavier stock than the sheet metal forming the air flues; though they may be made of the same material.

Returning to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the strap is shown applied to the clamping of sheet metal parts 4 and 5 about the steam pipe, the straps at opposite sides being welded to each other by a weld 11 which passes also through the parts 4, such welds being located immediately above and below the pipe. Where two or Ymore lengths of pipe are used asin Figs. 2

and 3, short separate straps may be used, one pair at each pipe, or a single strap may be used at each side, long enough to make all the necessary joints, as illustrated.

Fig. lvshows a modification of the units forming the corrugated structure. Each unit comprises a pair of side plates 2 connected at their inner edges by longitudinal plates 12 and flaring toward their outer edges, the latter being bent to form flanges 13. y

The inner portions of such units are bent outward to form recessed portions 14 which embrace the pipe and are fastened thereto in any of the ways described in connection with Fig. 1; as for example by the straps 6 with laterally extending fins.' The sheet metal units are located at such intervals along the pipe as to bring the flanges 13 of `adjacent units practically together to'form closed flues similar to those of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the straps. Each strap is substantially a half of the lstrap of Fig. 1, divided along a vertical transverse plane, providing short vertical portions 15 bearing against the flanges 4, recessed portions lembracing the pipe and transverse flanges 8, 9 extending into the space between the flues. Each pair of straps iswelded through one of the two pairs of flanges 4c, as indicated at 11.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modication ofthe sheet metal units. Each unit comprises the lateral fins or side plates 2 converging at their outer end and united by a longitudinal plate 3 to form a flue and having at their inner edges flanges 17 which overlap each other and are united by a single weld 11 extending through such flanges and through the embracing portions 6 of the opposite straps.

Fig. 7 illustrates the addition of certain fins 18V to increase the air-heating area. These fins are located within the flues formed by the plates 2 and 3. Each fin is provided with a.` flange19 fitting the pipe closely and held thereon by friction or soldering or by compressing the flange on the pipe or expanding the pipe. Or each fin may be divided in half along a central vertical line and the two halves welded on or about the tube similarly to the straps of Fig. 5. The flanges may be omitted and the simple perforated plates fastened on the pipe by expansion of the latter or compressing the plates as in Fig. 9b, or in other known ways.

The flanges, however, are useful in providing an easy means of spacing the fins. By using the straps having flanges 8, 9, in the spaces between the flues, and adding the fins 18 within the flues, we secure a maximum surface in conducting connection to the heating element and in contactY with the air.

The fins 18 and the other laterally extending plates orv flanges illustrated may be perfectly straight as shown, or if desired, they may be irregular and wavy in outline so as to cause considerable agitation of the air.

Additional fins may be provided Vbetween successive fiues. Fig. 8, for example, illustrates similar fins 18 applied to the pipe 1. The units forming the flues are separated for this purpose. The flanges 17 for each unit are fastened between the parts 6 of straps having laterally extending flanges or fins 8, 9. Any spacing of the liue sections and any corresponding number offins 18 may be provided (either with or without such fins within the fines) and this adaptability is one of the advantages of making the corrugated structure in separate units.

Y Instead of the comparatively wide flanges 17, there may be used the narrow flanges l of Fig. 5 and the narrew straps 15 shown in this figure; in which case it would be better to bring the two flues closer together or to provide a larger number of supplementary ns 18 in the intervening space.

Each unit in Fig. 8 preferably comprises the members of a single complete flue, and this is advantageous in manufacture and in stocking the parte to permit the production of radiators of different capacities; though the sheet metal may be bent up in units including more than a single flue.

ln Fig. 9- we have illustrated also a special method of applying the fins 18. ifi ring 2G is located about the flange 19 and is compressed thereon so as to form annular grooves l21. in the pipe of a depth which is very slight but is sufficient to hold the fins rigidly in place. The flanges 19 themselves can be compressed with siniilareffect without the aid of the rings 20. But if the fins and flanges are of soft metal such as copper, a stronger joint can be ma'de using supplementary rings 20 of steel or iron. p

Fig. 10 illustrates another modification in the shape of the sheet metal units. Each-unit comprises a pair of outwardly flaring side plates or ins 2 connected at their inner edges by a longitudinal plate 12 one of the side .plates having at its outer edge a longitudinal plate 23 which forms a closed flue with the plate 2 of the next unit and preferably has an overlapping flange 2l to stiifen the edges of the meeting plates.

Figs. 1l and 12 illustrate a modification of the clamping strap and fins between the flues. The straps in this case are simple bars with recessed portions 26 to embrace the pipes. Between the plates l of the sheet metal structure and the straps there are provided webs 27 with recesses 28 about the pipes and with transverse flanges or fins 29 ext-ending outward between the side walls 2 of the adjacent flues.

As illustrated in Fig. 12 this finned structure may extend the entire height of the radiator. By making it of thin sheet copper and the straps of steel we secure the strengthy of the latter for fastening-the parts of the radiator together and the conductivity of the surfaces.

Fig. 15 illustrates another arrangement of the parts where the units are of the typeV of Fig. 4, each comprising side plates connected at their inner edges by longitudinal plates 12 and having at their outer edges longitudinal flanges 13. The opposite units are united by straps 6. But each pair of units is separated so that the flanges 13 do not meet and close the space but only serve as stiffeners and to provide additional heating surface. The flanges 8, 9 of the straps fill the space between fins 2 ofeach unit. And between the units are additional fins 18 similar to those of Figs. 7 and 8.

Instead of the lins 18 wit-hin the flues, substantially equivalent fins may be provided at these points by the use of straps similar to those of Fig. 13.A Such supplementary straps are shown in Fig. 16 within the flues supplemented by others between adjacent flues. The straps within the fines have longitudinal portions 30` fitting directly against each other and recessed portions 31 witlilaterally entending fins or flanges 32. The longitudinal portions 30 are welded directly to each other and may be clamped so tightly about the pipe as to slightly indent the latter so as tobe held firmly in position. They can be made of metal as thin as desired, since their onlypurpose is to add to the heating surface.'

Fig. 17 illustrates a further modification of the unit structure. lere each unit of sheet metal is of the simplest form comprising only one of the side walls or fins 2 with flanges extending in opposite longitudinal directions at its two vertical edges, a. flange 4 at the inner edge corresponding to thatof Fig. 1;

and a flange 13 at its outer edge corresponding to that of Fig. 4.` rlhe parts are assembled and united in the same way as described in connection with Fig. 1.

The straps which embrace the extended area structure, whether they be of the onepiece type of Figs. 13 and 14 or of the composite type of Figs. 11 and 12, may have their recessed portions so small that when used for fastening the` units of the fin structure or other extended-area parts, they will compress the latter and depress the tube somewhat in the manner shown in Fig. 9a to form a. close and interlocking contact. And rings 20 of Fig. 9a may in fact be split and fastened together in a way similar to the straps described.

Assuming the rings 20 or the straps of Figs. 13 and 14 or the outer portions 25 of the composite straps of Fig. 11 to be of steel, and the tube to be of copper, there is a peculiar advantage in the combination. Vhen the tube is heated the copper tends to expand more rapidly than the steel and thus to make a tighter joint and a better heat-conducting contact. The expansion of the steel is within its elastic limit so that when the heat is off the parts will return substantially to their original closely united relation. The complete structure works largely by convec- Vtionand only to a comparatively small extent by radiation. The air is heated by contact with the yextended area of the lateral plates or fins. And the great height of these plates and ns compared with their width results in the formation of flues closed in cross-section and of open-sided ducts in which the air is heated in a rising column and a strong upward draft isA produced which causes a rapid circulation of warm air through the room or inclosure to be heated. i

ln connection with the other features of the radiator, we may use straps of other shapes than those illustrated; such, for eX- ample as the straps without flanges shown in the previous applications above referred to. f

Although we have specified copper as the preferred metal for the extended area of fins and corrugated sheets, various other metals may be used; such, for example as brass, aluminum, Zinc and steel and, in fact any workable metal. And such other metals have been successfully used by us for this purpose.

No specific-claim is made herein on the construction illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, a separate divisional application being filed therefor, Serial No. 413,473 liled December 12, 1929.

Various modifications in detail may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

Ve claim:

1. A heater comprising a heating element and an extended-area structure applied theretoV and forming closed vertical flues for inducing a rapid circulation of the heated air and laterally extending fins located between said flues.

2. A heater comprising a heating element iand an extended-area structure applied thereto and forming closed vertical flues for inducing a rapid circulation of the heated air and laterally extending fins located between and within said flues.

3. A heater comprising a heating element and an extended-area structure applied thereto in separate units each comprising at least one laterally extending-plate with longitudinally extending flanges at its vertical edges plates connected at their` adjacent edges by a longitudinally extending plate.

5. A heater comprising'a horizontally extending heating element and an extendedarea structure applied thereto in separate units transverse to said heating element each comprising at least one laterally extending plate with longitudinally extending flanges at its vertical'edges, said units being mounted on the heating element to form comparatively narrow closed flues with comparatively Wide spaces between the lues.

6. A heater comprising a heating element and an extended-area structure applied thereto in separate units each comprising at least one laterally extending plate with longitudinally extending flanges at its vertical edges, said units being mounted on the heating element to form comparatively narrow closed lues with comparatively wide spaces between the flues and with separate fins in such comparatively wide spaces.

7. A heater comprising a heating element and an extended-area structure applied thereto comprising laterally extending lins with iianges on their inner edges embracing the heating element and straps embracing the heating element and said lianges and fastening the parts together, said straps also having laterally extending flanges providing an additional exposed heating surface.

8. A heater 'comprising a heating element and an extendedearea structure applied thereto comprising laterally extending fins with longitudinally extending ianges on their ver` tical edges arranged to form vertical lues, and straps between the ues for fastening the parts together, said straps also having laterally extending ilanges providing an additional exposed heating surface.

9. A heater comprising a heating element and an extend-ed area structure applied thereto in separate units, each comprising at least one laterally extending plate with longitudinally expanding lianges at its vertical edges and with one of said flanged edges recessed and fitted closely to the heating element with a good heat conducting joint and laterally extending lins mounted on said flanged edges itting said heating element.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

IRVING T. BENNETT. FRANK C. REYNOLDS. 

